New appointments announced for Resource Advisory Council

SALT LAKE CITY — The Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday three new appointments and one re-appointment of members to the 15-member citizen-based Utah Resource Advisory Council, which advises the organization on public land issues. The councils are composed of members with diverse interests and backgrounds.

“Our Resource Advisory Councils exemplify the BLM’s collaborative approach to public land management,” BLM Director Neil Kornze said. “I want to welcome our newly appointed RAC members and thank them for their commitment to public service.”

Below are the newly appointed and re-appointed members of the Utah Resource Advisory Council:

Daniel McClendon, Kanab | energy

Steven Burr, Moab | dispersed recreation (re-appointment)

William Cox, Woodruff | elected official

Willie Grayeyes, Navajo Mountain | Indian tribes

The councils, composed of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural resource issues, help the BLM carry out its nationwide stewardship of 245 million acres – the largest land portfolio of any federal agency. The BLM has established 28 Resource Advisory Councils across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located.

Each council consists of 10 to 15 members who represent stakeholder interests in public land management, such as conservationists, outdoor recreationists, ranchers, industry officials, tribal leaders, state and local government officers, academics and others.

The BLM, an agency of the Interior Department, is responsible for managing these various uses, such as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development and energy production, while conserving the land’s natural, historical and cultural resources.